Offender Profiling OFFENDER PROFILING Profiling begins with an

Offender Profiling

OFFENDER PROFILING Profiling begins with an analysis of the physical evidence found at individual crime scenes. The criminal profiler uses deductive reasoning to start to develop a picture of the offender in terms of the characteristics of different kinds of criminal. deductive reasoning: the reasoning involved in using specific physical facts to arrive at generalizations

The Anthrax Killer and the role of the FBI On the 18 th of September 2001, 7 days after the twin towers were hit, a hand printed letter was sent to “NBC TV – Tom Brokaw”. It was postmarked Trenton, NJ (New Jersey). On the same name a similar letter was sent to “NY Post” (New York) and was also postmarked Trenton, NJ. Inside the letters was a “coarse brown granular material looking like Purina dog food”

Robert S tevens, a journalist another p working f aper owne or person to d by AMI c w of anthra ontract and die fr as the first x spores, o in total at m inhalation people de v l these die eloped the infectio east 22 d n aide of S of the infection, i , five of en n workers w ator Daschle and cluding the tw ho had ha ndled the o postal letters. The FBI w ere called i and issue d a profil n to investigate to e of the p case offender/ o ssible s. See h/o a nd task sh eet

Subsequent to the letters being sent the following information became available: The Anthrax in the second set of letters was more sophisticated and refined than that first used. Although of different grades, the Anthrax was derived from the same bacterial strain. This strain had been originally researched at Fort Derrick, U. S. A. and distributed to fifteen bio-research labs within the U. S. and six overseas. The strain had been cultured no more than two years previously. On the 9 th May 2002 the New Scientist reported that “The DNA sequence of the anthrax sent through the mail in 2001 has been revealed and confirms that the bacteria originally came from a US military Laboratory” In August 2002 investigators found Anthrax spores in a mailbox at 10 Nassau Street near Princeton University, New Jersey.

Look at the information of your booklet and try the questions on p 39. on to p 37 -38 answer What do you think is the purpose of offender profiling, based on this case and your general knowledge?

� The FBI and USA government have yet to convict anyone for the Anthrax attacks although there have been several suspects: Steven Hatfill: A virologist and ex-green beret Dr Philip Zack: A microbiologist working at Fort Derrick, accused of leading a hate campaign against muslim co-workers Dr Bruce Ivins: Worked in the bio-defense labs at Fort Derrick for 18 years. Committed suicide on 1 st August, 2008. Widely reported that the FBI were about to accuse him of the anthrax attacks. On 6 th August 2008 Ivins was declared to be the sole culprit in the Anthrax attacks. The case is now closed.

Offender Profiling

OFFENDER PROFILING Profiling begins with an analysis of the physical evidence found at individual crime scenes. The criminal profiler uses deductive reasoning to start to develop a picture of the offender in terms of the characteristics of different kinds of criminal. deductive reasoning: the reasoning involved in using specific physical facts to arrive at generalizations

Holmes (1989) suggests that the aims of profiling are: � To reduce the scope of an investigation by providing basic information in relation to the social and psychological variables of the offender’s personality � To allow some prediction of future offences and their location � To provide a psychological evaluation of belongings found in the suspect’s possession � To provide strategies for interviewing offenders which take account of individual differences.

There are two major approaches to profiling: 1. The British take a BOTTOM UP approach to profiling which involves ”Using detailed information from INDIVIDUAL crime scenes to draw up an INDIVIDUAL profile of the suspect. ” 2. The Americans favour a TOP DOWN approach ◦ “Compares detail of a crime with existing classifications of crimes to match the crime with a TYPOLOGY of a criminal. ”

The US approach Top - down

Typological offender profiling �Booklet �the p 35; FBI interviewed 36 notorious sex murderers and serial killers in prison

Two important ideas � Behavioural evidence ◦ Things that tells us how an offender went about committing a crime � Criminal consistency ◦ The idea that a person’s behaviour at a crime scene is consistent with their behaviour in other contexts ◦ These can be used to try to work out which type of offender has committed a particular crime

M. O. = modus operandi = ‘way of operating’. Hazelwood believed there is an agreement between character and action. What do you think the implications of this are?

What does this crime scene tell you about the offender responsible?

Characteristics of sex criminals Victims chosen for a r_ _ _: they possess a characteristic valued by the killer Crime driven by s_ _ _ f _ _ _ _. (HINT – where do you think they originate from? LINK with Freud? ? ) Choose a victim they can access and overpower e _ _ _. Early sexual fetishes and an interest in p _ _ _ and c _ _ _ Poor s _ _ _ skills

Typological offender profiling CARD SORT! ORGANISED CRIME SCENE DISORGANISED CRIME SCENE ORGANISED CRIMINAL DISORGANISED CRIMINAL

Planned Spontaneous Victim – targeted stranger Victim known by offender Control including restraints Little control Aggression before death Sexual acts before death Body hidden or removed from crime scene Body not hidden, or left at crime scene Weapon and evidence absent Evidence present Higher than average IQ Skilled occupation Controlled observation Living with partner Mobile – eg car Socially competent Sexually competent High birth order status Father’s work stable Inconsistent discipline in childhood Lower than average IQ Unskilled Uncontrolled Living alone Lives near crime Socially incompetent Sexually incompetent Low birth order status Father’s work unstable Harsh discipline during childhood Use of alcohol during crime Alcohol not used during crime Follows crime on news Does not follow crime on news Limited change in behaviour after crime Major behaviour change after crime

a t c Sele d d an t e l k boo s e r u t a e f e s e h r t u f o o y f o few 5 3 p o t m e th There’s more information on this topic at: http: //homepage. ntlworld. com/gary. sturt/c rime/offender%20 profiling%20 definitions. htm

Types of crime scene Organised Disorganised General approach Planned and controlled Unplanned and chaotic Weapons Brought to the scene Improvised Evidence Destroyed or removed Left at scene Victim Attempts to control Little attempt at control Offender Unknown to victim Socially & sexually competent Normal/high intelligence Angry/depressed Possibly known to victim Socially & sexually inept Low intelligence Anxious/psychotic

Categorise three criminals using the case histories provided

FBI profiling process Data assimilation Data compiled from police reports, post mortems, crime scene photos etc. Crime classification Profilers decide whether the crime scene is organised or disorganised Profile generation Offender’s physical, demographic and behavioural characteristics Crime reconstruction Hypotheses about crime sequence, offender & victim behaviour etc. 4 p 3 t e l k o o b See

Profile the crime scenes at the back of your booklet � Use the evidence to construct a profile ◦ Organised or disorganised ◦ Behavioural evidence ◦ Known characteristics of serial offenders � Your profile should… ◦ Tell the story of the crime ◦ Describe the person responsible

Types of crime scene Organised Disorganised General approach Planned and controlled Unplanned and chaotic Weapons Brought to the scene Improvised Evidence Destroyed or removed Left at scene Victim Attempts to control Little attempt at control Offender Unknown to victim Socially & sexually competent Normal/high intelligence Angry/depressed Possibly known to victim Socially & sexually inept Low intelligence Anxious/psychotic

Problems with typological profiling � What problems can you identify with the FBI’s approach to offender profiling? ◦ Assumptions about stable types ◦ Incomplete data ◦ Subjective judgements ◦ Small and unusual sample ◦ Validity of methodology ◦ Narrative & anecdotal evidence

For the UK approach, we’re going to focus on GEOGRAPHICAL PROFILING psychlotron. org. uk • You have two minutes to draw a map of the Ko. W catchment area.

The UK approach Bottom - up

lds i u b d an s l i a t e all d g l l n i a s m u s e h r t i u t w c i s p t rn r a e a t t t e s t a a p s i Th ea o cre d i t v p o r u nd p a o t s c s them i t ris aim e t t i c ; a a r t al a a n h d i c e m l i g r b n c availa f co-occurri iour during ur o i v o v a a h eh be b n i s cie n e t s i s con

Look at your booklet p 40! for k o o l ter n a C s ng i a r u h d c r u iou rs s v e a l i f h o e in r b p r s u ’ h l o s i a i t v n i ha Br imi e r b c s a i h in h t c t i c c h e a l f w o e t n d yr n a e t m ways i e e f l o s e p a crim cause peop y yt n a e m b n. s ; o s i e t o f i r l a c u y t a i a ts n e r e everyd nsistent way f f di o c a

What is geographical profiling? psychlotron. org. uk • A set of techniques for making inferences about crime and criminals from the location and timing of offences.

Activity: Crime mapping – How many offenders do you think are responsible and why? – What other suggestions can you make about the offender(s)? psychlotron. org. uk • Plot the crimes listed on p 43 of your booklet on the map on p 42 and then decide. . .

Crime mapping Source: streetmap. co. uk

Crime mapping Source: streetmap. co. uk

Offence clusters

Crime mapping Source: streetmap. co. uk

Source: streetmap. co. uk

Geographical profiling: 1. Routine activity theory • Crimes occur when three circumstances coincide: • Criminal offences are an extension of the offender’s normal activities, so will occur in places the offender makes regular use of psychlotron. org. uk – A motivated offender – A suitable (and vulnerable) victim – Absence of a capable guardian

• A circle drawn to encompass all the crimes in a series is likely to contain the offender’s base (Canter & Larkin, 1993). • Where should the police look for the offender responsible for the cluster between the underground line and Durnsford road? psychlotron. org. uk Geographical profiling: 2. Circle theory of environmental range

3. Dragnet analysis

Timing of offences psychlotron. org. uk • Information about geographical location of crimes becomes more useful when combined with information about when offences occurred.

Crimes around Manchester University Street robbery Burglary J F M A M J J A S O How can we explain the fluctuations in different crimes over the year? N D

Mental maps CHEDDAR MAP • How accurate is your map of the Cheddar area? • How does your map reflect your experiences and perspective?

Mental maps • Individuals construct mental maps of the areas they know. psychlotron. org. uk – These are not absolutely accurate. They embody the person’s experience and perspective on the area. – The distribution of linked offences may reflect the offender’s mental map of the area

• List some different ways geographical profiling might contribute to police work? psychlotron. org. uk • What issues may make geographical profiling difficult and/or misleading?

John Duffy: The “Railway Rapist” (Canter 1994) Jan 1994: Series of sexual assaults in and around London published in the Evening Standard. David Canter, an environmental psychologist, notices a pattern in the attacks. CASE STUDY: Canter makes 2 assumptions: a) Differences between attacks involving one man and those involving two may offer clues as to the behaviour of the attacker/s b) People’s behaviour is predictable but also varies over time, subtle differences in behaviour over time may provide clues about the offenders

CASE STUDY: John Duffy: The “Railway Rapist” (Canter 1994) December 1985 and Spring 1986: Two murders take place, common features identified in both murders. Forensic details led police to realise murders carried out by the same man as the previous rapes but no closer to identifying a suspect. David Canter asked to assist police in predicting the attacker’s behaviour.

Canter and police look at two aspects of the cases: � Details of each individual attack � Changes in behaviour over time Canter was particularly interested in a) How the attacker related to the victims may relate to how he relates to others b) How much domination he exercised over the victims 28 th July 1986: Canter produces profile!

Now its YOUR turn to think like a profiler! 1. 2. 3. Read through the John Duffy case study. Look carefully at the profile on page 48 and read the first paragraph on page 47 & 49. (This explains how Canter reached ONE of his profile points) For each profile bullet point try and decide HOW Canter came up with this description. For example link between sexual activity and marital status.

Compare and contrast… � How are geographical (UK) and typological (US) offender profiling similar and different? ◦ ◦ ◦ Purpose Assumptions Use of categories/types Types of crime applicable Evidence base

EVALUATION OF PROFILING: (Wilson et al: 1997 Validity, utility and ethics of profiling for serial and sexual offenders) 1. VALIDITY: What is profiling meant to achieve? (slide 2) The majority of profiles are mildly to severely flawed (Wilson et al) Pinizzotto, 1984. Analysis of FBI profiling (192 cases): 46% were “of benefit” but only 17% were of “assistance in identification of suspect” Copson, 1995. Analysis of Profiling in GB (180 cases) 50% of police officers said the profile had helped but only 14% said it had “shed light” on the investigation. 3% of the profiles were useful in positively identifying the offenders.

EVALUATION OF PROFILING: (Wilson et al: 1997 Validity, utility and ethics of profiling for serial and sexual offenders) 2. Usefulness 77% of cases gave a “clearer focus for the investigation process” (Pinnizotto) Over 60% of police officers surveyed felt that it was helpful to have the profiler present. (to reinforce judgments made by the police) About the same number of officers reported that they would certainly consult a profiler in future (Copson) Wilson suggests that profiling is MOST useful for serial murder and other violent crimes and least useful for crimes against property and drug related crimes.

EVALUATION OF PROFILING: (Wilson et al: 1997 Validity, utility and ethics of profiling for serial and sexual offenders) 3. ETHICS The Rachel Nickell case raised doubts over the use of profiling in a covert operation to try and identify if Colin Stagg was actually her Killer The FBI have been accused of hounding Dr Bruce Ivins as a suspect in the Anthrax attacks and were responsible for his suicide. Wilson argues that the use of profiling is not unethical but the professionals carrying out the profiling must be COMPETENT

EVALUATION OF PROFILING: (Wilson et al: 1997 Validity, utility and ethics of profiling for serial and sexual offenders) 4. Reliability Wilson rated 32 cases of serial murder in which profiling was used in order to assess a) how ACCURATE the profile was And b) Whether the crimes were solved. Number of cases / 32 Accurate Case Solved Yes 22 28 No 4 3 Doubt 2 1 Partially 2 / Assisted 2 /

homework � From the slides on this sheet, any other relevant resources and your own opinions as a psychology student, answer the following question: � b) evaluate offender profiling as a method of using psychology to solve a crime (15) � DUE IN FRIDAY 30 NOVEMBER